Wiring and the like clip device



y 15, 1945' E. P. COGSWELL 2,376,31 4

WIRING AND THE LIKE CLIP DEVICE Original Filed June 26, 1942 Invnior EZZioZ 1? qg wezl.

Patented May 15, 1945 WIRING AND Tim LIKE CLIP DEvIoEw Elliotv P. Cogswell, Baltimore; Md., assignor to United-(Farr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a. corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of application Serial No- 448,691,

. June 26, 1942. This a 9 Claims. The present invention relates to strand retain- 1 ers and the like, and more particularly to retainers for holding aplurality of strands, such as electrical conductors, in secure grouped relationship, and aims generally to improve existing devices for that purpose. 1 v y g Amongthe primary objects of the invention is the improvement and simplification of conductor retainers possessing simple means for readily attaching the retainer to a support. Afurther object of the invention is the provisionjof a re-. tainer having associated therewith an elastic band or strap adapted to be securedto the retainer and engage a group of strands in grouped relationship under tension of said band. i

Illustrative of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing showing several embodiments of the invention, and'in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of retainer applied to a support and illustrating a group of electrical conductors secured thereto s Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

pplication February 29, 1944, Serial No. 524,455 r i (01. 24-13) v v y L be apertured to receive a separate snapfastener Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating an alternative mode of attaching the elastic band to the retainer;

Fig.5 is aside view of a modified form of retainer attached to asupport;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the retainer illustratedin Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of retainer; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are side views illustrating difierent manners of securing groups of conductors to the retainer of the type shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, the invention com-' prises a' retainer member formed of suitable materialas, for example, metal, and having a base portion engaging and secured to a support and another portion spaced from or angularly disposed relative to the base, and an elastic strap secured to one of said portions and anchored to the other for securing a group of conductors between them.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the retainers advantageously include a base porertured, as at 2|, to receive a snapfastening II,,

tion I I] which may be formed with suitable means for attachment to a support 1, for example, a

snap fastener ll adapted to engage in an aperture in the support. The fastener II may be separate from the base or secured thereto as desired, and alternatively other means may be provided for-securing the base to the supporfis,

for 'example,-weldsl2 (see Fig. 7).

I According to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the retainer base In may member [I adapted to be passed through the apertures in the base and support for securing the retainer thereto. A side [3 extends angularly. away from the base I0 near the end .of. which is formed aside opening or T-shaped slot.

M. An elongated slot I5 is formed in the retainer in the angle between the base 10. and side I 3.

passed through the elongatedslot l5, thus form ing an elastic loop to encompass. a group; of strands S as, for example, electrical conductors grouped on said base. Said group of strands may be securely held thereon by placing the loop over the strands and drawing the flexible strap l6 through the slot I5 to stretch it andcause the loop portion to engage the strandsunder tension. The strap may be secured in stretched or tensioned condition by hooking .a portion thereof in the open-sided or T-shaped slot l4,

The strap I6 may be secured to the base in any suitable manner desired.- According to Figs. 1 and 2, oneend of the strap I6 may be riveted, as at IT, to the base l0. Alternately, the base may be formed with an upstandingend Illeslotted, as at I0 through which the strapis passed, and one end of the strap may be formed with an enlargement or thickened portion 16* to prevent the end from being pulled through the slot 0 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. i

The retainer, instead of being rightangular in form, may be substantially U -shaped, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which case one of the iegs constitutes a base portion .20 which may be apas in the case of the retainer of Figs. 1 :and 4. The opposite ieg 22 may be spaced above and substantially parallel to the base, said" base 20.

and leg 22 being connected by a bight portion 23 which may be slotted, as at 24 and 25, for the passage of the flexible strap 16. Preferably, these slots are near the planes of the "base 20 and leg 22. Near the free end of the leg 22 is an open-sided or T-staped slot 26 in which may be hooked the tensioned strap l6.

It will be observed that the space between the base 2|] and leg 22 provides room for the recep-o tion of a relatively large group of wires, which are placed upon the strap [6 previously inserted through the slot 24 and drawn toan untensioned position where the stop 16. engages and abuts against the outer faceof the retainer, as shown in Fig. 5. The opposite end of the strap l3 may be passed through the slot 25 and the strap drawn taut to stretched or tensioned condition, to firmly hold the group of wires between the tensioned 100p portion and the bight portion 23 of the retainer. The strap maythen be ,reversely folded upon the upper surface of the legs 22 and the end'portion of the 'tensioned strap hooked into the open-sided or T-shaped slot 25.

A further modified form of retainer is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, which includes features of both of the previously described forms and provides a retainer capable of retaining various sized groups of wires in various positions,

According to this form of invention, they may be of general U-shape, as in Figs. andfi, providing a base 30, leg 31, and connecting bight portion 32, a portion 33 of which is bent angularly to the plane of the base 30, as in the case of the retainer of Figs. 1 to 4. A plurality of slots 34 are formedin the bight portion, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and, preferably, 'a similar slot 34 is-provid'ed near the juncture of the angular extension 33 with the leg 3|. An open-sided T-shaped slot 35 is-provided nearthe outer end of the extension' 33.

The strap is may be inserted through any of the slots 34 or 34*, as illustrated in Figs. '8 and 9, and drawn to a position where the stop lfi abuts the outer surface of the re-tainer. If, for example, the strap I6 is first inserted in one of the slots 34 i the bight portion 3!, it may be drawn overa group ofwires assembled in-the bight of theretainer-,-th'en passed through the slot 34 andhooked into the T-shaped slot 35, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Alternately, the strap may be initially passed through-the slot 34% drawn over and around a group of wires, passed through one of the slots 34, and then hooked in the 'T-shaped slot 35, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

It will beunderstood that the-retainer member may be of various constructions and shapes so longas it provides strap-anchoring means, such as the riveted connection-l1 or one of the strap-receiving slots 10 24, 25, 34, or 34, on the one hand, and the strap latching means, such as the T-shaped slots'on the other hand, are spaced in difie'rent planes'to provide between the armincluded portion of the retainer and a looped por-- tion of the strap It for engaging the grou of wires under tension. i

Obviously, the elastic strap may be of any suit able material as, for example, rubber, so long as it is readily stretchable and capable of engaging the'group of wires under tension to hold them in place and cushion-them against wear.

This'application is a continuation of my prior copending application Serial No. 448,691, filed June-26, 1942.

Although I have illustrated and described preferredembodiments of my invention, '1 do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A strand retainer of the class described com-- prising a base portion and a leg portion, means for attaching said base portion to a support, an elastic strap having one end secured to said base ortion, said leg portion having a T-slot disposed in 'a plane spaced laterallyfromthe plane of said strapconnectionfsaid retainer being formed with a strap-receiving slot v intermediate said strap connection and T-slot, said strap being stretchable and looped between" said connection and strap-receiving slot to engage a group of strands under tension and hold them against an intermediate portion of the retainer, and said stretched strap being anchored in said T-slot.

2t A strand retainer comprising a base portion, aleg portion and an intermediate U-shaped bightportion, means for attaching'saidbase portion to a support, an elastic strap having one end secured to said base portion, said leg portion having a T-slot, and disposed in a plane spaced laterally from the plane of said strap connection, said retainer being formed with a strap-receiving slot intermediate said strap connection and .T-slot, said strap being stretchable and looped between said connection and strap-receiving slot to engage a group of strands under tension and hold them against the intermediate bight portion of the retainer, and said stretched strap being anchored in said T-slot.

3. A strand retainer comprising a base portion, a'leg portion and an intermediate vbight portion, means for attaching said base portion toja supporigan' elastic strap formed with anjenlarged" stop at one end,said base and bightf portionsf being formed with a plurality of strap-receiving slots, said leg ortion being formed with a T-' slot near the end thereof, and spaced laterally from atleast one of said stmp-receiVing'slots, said strap being inserted in one of said strap-f receiving slots. and beingstretcl'ied. over a group of strands assembled in said retainer and then:

passed throughv another of said strap-receiving slotsto hold' said strands under tension, and said" stretched strap being anchored insaid T-sljot; 4. A strand retainer forholdingfone,v or more strands of wire in place upon a support and comprising, in combination, apart having a base per? tion'to be secured to the support, a strap associ ated. with said part for holding the. strand. or

strands of wire in position, said straphaving, one end secured to said part. andsaid part havingflat least two slots" therein, the strap being looped from its secured end through one of said. slotsand the looped portion-pressing the strandolj strands firmly against said. part, and said strap being passed through said other, slot in a manner to be gripped by said part and held against slipp ng. i

5. A strand retainer of the classdescribedcorh prising a base portion, means for attaching the base portion to a support,. a strap secured atone end to said retainer, another part of said re;

tainer disposed in a plane spacedfro mthe plane of said-base portion and having, an anchoringslot,

said v retainer being provided with a strap-receiv ing slot intermediate-said strap connection and anchoring slot, said strap being loopedv from said connection through said strap-receiving slot to engage a group of strands. under tension and hold.

them against one portion of the retainer, and said strap'being anchored in said anchoring slot, for the purpose described. 'v

6. A; strand retainer of the class adap ed to be secured to a support, anelastic strap securedat one end tosaid retainer-,said retainer having a T-shapedslotdisposed ina;

plane: spaced irom; the plane of said strap connectionand laterally removed therefrom; said retainer being,v formed with a strap-receiving slotv intermediate, said strap connection and T-slot; said strap being stretchable andlooped between said connection and strap-receiving slot, to .en-{.

gage a groupxof strands under tension'and hold them against an intermediateportion of ,the re.-;

tainer, and said stretched strap being anchored in said T-slot.

'7. A strand retainer for use in combination with an elastic binding strap, said retainer comprising abase portion, a leg portion and an intermediate bight portion, said base and bight por. tions each being formed with a strap-receiving slot, said leg portion being formed with a T-j-slot near an end thereof and spaced laterally from at least one of said strap-receiving slots whereby a group of strands may be retained in assembled relation on said retainer by an elastic strap passed over said strands and through said strapreceiving slots, said T-slot providing an anchor for the stretched strap beyond said grouped strands.

8. A strand-retainer for use in combination with an elastic binding strap, said retainer comand the strap-receiving opening whereby a group of strands may be retained in assembled relation in said bight portion by an elastic strap passed through said opening and strap-receiving slot,

said T-slot providing an anchor for the stretched strap beyond said bight portion.

l 9. A strand-retainer for use in combination .With an elastic binding strap, said retainer comprising a base portion adapted to be secured to a support, a leg portion and an, intermediate bight portion, said leg portion formed with a strap-connectingopening for securing a terminal end of the strap thereto, said leg portion. formed with a T-slot disposed in a plane spaced from the strap-connecting opening and laterally removed therefrom, said retainer being 'further formed-With a strap-receiving slot intermediate said strap-connecting opening and T-slot whereby a group of strands may be retained on said re- 7 tainer intermediate the strap-connecting opening Y and strap-receiving slot by a strap passed through said opening and slot, said T-slot pro, viding an anchor for a portion of a stretched strap beyond said grouped strands.

ELLIOT P. COGSWELL. 

